Stories for All Ages

Selected and presented by one of Wilde's biggest fans, the book includes a foreword from Stephen Fry, as well as introductions to the stories themselves, explaining why they mean so much to him and why they should mean a lot to you too. llustrated by Nicole Stewart, stunning artwork accompanies each story to give shape to the reader's imagination.

Whether you know it or notSelected and presented by one of Wilde's biggest fans, the book includes a foreword from Stephen Fry, as well as introductions to the stories themselves, explaining why they mean so much to him and why they should mean a lot to you too. llustrated by Nicole Stewart, stunning artwork accompanies each story to give shape to the reader's imagination.

Whether you know it or not, the stories in this book are familiar. Like old friends whose charm and warmth never fade, Oscar Wilde's short stories have enchanted generations of readers, and this beautiful book makes them accessible to an entirely new readership.

Selected and presented by one of Wilde's biggest fans, the book includes a foreword from Stephen Fry, who will also supply short introductions to the stories themselves, explaining why they mean so much to him and why they should mean a lot to you too.

Meet the selfish giant, whose garden was cloaked in perpetual winter until he allowed the children to enter and play, the happy prince whose statue stood overlooking his city, who gave the rubies and sapphires embedded in his eyes and clothing to feed the poor, and the tiny swallow who helped him. And let's not forget the remarkable rocket who was so convinced that he would be the brightest, most remarkable rocket of all, yet who ended up in a ditch. There's also the Canterville ghost, so inept at being scary that every attempt to spook his American visitors results in failure.

Stephen Fry has always been passionate about Oscar Wilde's writing but he has a particular fondness for his short stories. In this beautifully illustrated book he shares with us what each story means to him and what he feels the reader can take away with them, whether they're five or fifty years old. As well as a general introduction, Stephen offers introductions to the stories themselves, taking the reader through his selection. Illustrated by Nicole Stewart, stunning artwork accompanies each story to give shape to the reader's imagination.

Whether you are buying this for yourself, for your wife, your son or daughter, for your nephew, your niece, your mother, your brother or your sister, the book will be a gift that you or they will cherish forever and return to time and time again. These are stories for adults and children of all ages, for all time....more

Community Reviews

While I love "The Canterville Ghost" (that was my first encounter with Wilde ever), I'm not all that convinced by some of the other stories. This makes it three stars for the stories.

The paintings however were really beautiful and well-fitting, and illustrator Nicole Stewart seems to exhibit every ounce of glee in her paintings that Oscar had in his writing. This lead me to up the rating to 4 stars.

I was close to deducting the excess star again, though - foThe rating for this book is a bit odd.

While I love "The Canterville Ghost" (that was my first encounter with Wilde ever), I'm not all that convinced by some of the other stories. This makes it three stars for the stories.

The paintings however were really beautiful and well-fitting, and illustrator Nicole Stewart seems to exhibit every ounce of glee in her paintings that Oscar had in his writing. This lead me to up the rating to 4 stars.

I was close to deducting the excess star again, though - for the UTTER IDIOCY of putting Stephen's notes not as comments after the story, but as an introduction at the beginning. There are people who haven't read it yet and don't want to know what will happen!!!Stupid, stupid, stupid....more

I absolutely adored this book. Reading Stephen's comments before each story made them, if possible, even more perfect. I was torn between devouring the stories in one lot, and reading one each day becaues of the immense emotional pull each one has. (As it was, I ended up reading one story a day for a few days and then just sitting down and reading the rest all in one happy, tearful lot).

If I'm honest, I think I love these stories because they're written so beautifully, and in a way I try to emulate when writing myself... Despairingly melancholy in places, but with the very most "good" of intentions. The man was a genius with a silver tongue - the best kind.

I found these stories very interesting yet very sad. I love Wilde's style of writing but I am still undecided as to whether I would read these to my children. But that said I would read the original Grimm's to them and these stories aren't nearly as gory. Just incredibly tragic.

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being EOscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, and a plentitude of aphorisms, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the late Victorian era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his plays continue to be widely performed, especially The Importance of Being Earnest.

As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years hard labour after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men. After Wilde was released from prison he set sail for Dieppe by the night ferry. He never returned to Ireland or Britain, and died in poverty....more